World Journal of
Pharmaceutical and Life Sciences

MARINE SERRATIA MARCESCENS CHITINASE PRODUCTION: MEDIUM CONSTITUTION AND OPTIMAL CONDITIONS

Ben Amar Cheba*

ABSTRACT

Serratia an ubiquitous member of Enterobacteriaceae produce many extracellular enzymes. Serratia marcescens used in this study was marine strain previously identified and selected as hyper chitinase producer. In this research the optimum conditions for chitinase production were determined using one factor at time technique (OFAT) in shake flasks (submerged fermentation). The highest chitinase activity was obtained in 75% natural sea water, 0.5% crab shell colloidal chitin as essential carbon source, 0.2 % lactose as secondary carbon source, 0.5% peptone as nitrogen source, 8% NaCl and 2.5% as best inoculum size. The production also was optimum at initial pH: 6.5, temperature 30 0C, and 48 h incubation period at 150 rpm shaking. These results form the basis for large scale production as well as further improvement for the enzyme properties suitable for various applications in the future.

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